ART CART Artists Working Partners, 2015 – 16

A self-taught Assemblage Artist, I am repeatedly drawn to vintage and time-worn items. My professional background in recycling and design informs my work. I thrill at the hunt for materials in flea markets, antique shops, thrift stores, and garage sales. In my vast collection of found objects you can find fabrics, trims, millinery supplies; vintage dolls, toys, buttons, photos, game pieces, jewelry, and kitchen utensils; an array of parts from clocks, chandeliers, and typewriters; and just about any other kind of random objects.

Rarely do I start a project with a particular design plan in mind. Instead, my approach is organic and primarily spontaneous. It often begins with rummaging through my studio for objects that grab my attention or spark my imagination in that moment. It could be something as simple as an item’s shape, patina, or texture. Then the fun begins as I play with various ideas, adding and rearranging materials while thinking through any construction challenges.

At some point, I will intuitively know when my assemblage is finished and ready to stand on its own: a collection of found objects arranged in unexpected ways inviting the viewer into an altered perspective of everyday objects.